In
a book by Ray Bradbury entitled Fahrenheit
451, Bradbury speaks about the
horrors of censorship. In this story's society books were banned.
Firemen started fires rather than putting them out. Firemen burned
books and society no longer taught anything in schools. Why? This
society was "politically correct". An increase in minorities
caused people to become more concerned with the possibility of
offensive material. That society was under the impression that
anytime people would think, conflict would arise and thus happiness
would be lost. Because of this, rather than just letting people
choose for themselves the books they read, the society just destroyed
books and education altogether.

Fahrenheit
451 is not just a science fiction
story. It is happening daily. Political correctness is striping us of
our freedoms that our ancestors fought so hard for years ago. We are
losing our freedom of the press, freedom of religion and freedom of
speech. Political correctness is destroying what we built our country
upon; this problem needs to stop.

A
woman named Brigitte Gabriel tells her story of how political
correctness trapped her in devastation through a book called Because
They Hate. During the Lebanon
Revolution, Islamic people were terrorizing the Christians in
attempts to take over the land. Grass was her "daily bread" as
she was living in a bomb shelter, fearing for her life.
Unfortunately, not one American newspaper chose to put that article
on the front of their newspaper. When the Americans did speak of the
issue, they did not show the story in its entirety. One theory is
that since the Muslims were helping to fund our schools and other
such things, the Americans might lose their funding and their wrath
might turn toward America. The Americans were so afraid to offend,
that they in turn slept through the war. Due to America's political
correctness, Christians in Lebanon were persecuted by the Muslims.

During
the Holocaust, America was politically correct. The New
York Times had articles about the
Jewish persecutions on page four.
Not on page one, two or even three. Page four.
This was not because the other news was of more importance. The
editors just put things that were harder to believe further back.
Moreover, they were afraid to offend. Germany was trying to keep
quiet their final obliteration of the Jewish people. Due to political
correctness in the United States, the Nazis succeeded at keeping
their secrets of destruction and torture quieter.

Freedom
of religion, too, is disappearing from the new ideas of political
correctness. Through the radio and other media sources, broadcasters
speak of some new policies. The Ten Commandments is being taken out
of court houses and schools. It is no longer "appropriate"
because it could offend someone that is not a Christian. More than
that, not too long ago there was a debate about whether the Pledge of
Allegiance should mention God in it. Someone was being offended
because they did not believe there was a God. Since someone was
offended, the traditional policy was being criticized. Yet isn't it
our right as American citizens to show our beliefs, whether everyone
agrees with them or not? Instead of accepting those of a monotheistic
faith, people are feeling attacked, threatened or offended by simple
reminders of other religions even though things like the recitation
of "The Pledge of Allegiance" is not a requirement in schools. It
is in this way that America is losing its freedom of religion.

Freedom
of speech is another thing that Americans take pride in.
Unfortunately, it is hardly seen anymore! Teachers in schools are not
allowed to speak about religion or politics at all. If they speak of
a religion or political view different than what the children were
taught at home, it could create controversy. Parents are afraid it
might even make children convert to other religions, or start taking
on different political beliefs. And teachers are afraid to bite the
hand that feeds them. Without their taxpayers happy, they could not
live so they stay on the safe side and do their best to make sure
they are not being politically incorrect.

It
goes beyond schools. In the news recently, people were voicing
concern about a politically incorrect "Santa phrase". People were
questioning whether Santa should be allowed to say, "Ho, Ho, Ho!"
anymore. People were concerned that in saying, "Ho, Ho, Ho!"
prostitutes would be offended. Even kids in school are afraid to say
"Merry Christmas" anymore because they are afraid to be sued by
people who do not celebrate Christmas. People, instead, put up signs
that say, "Happy Holidays" now just in case someone in their area
does not celebrate what they do.

Ray Bradbury was
not alone in his ideas of how political correctness can be changed
into tragedy. A man name Henry Steele Commager once made this quote,
"The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it
creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of
exercising real discretion." This man supports what Fahrenheit
451 says. Another man named Potter Stewart made this quote,
"Censorship reflects society's lack of confidence in itself. It is
a hallmark of an authoritarian regime." Out of all the quotes I
have seen and heard that support Bradbury's views, Robert Stern's
was by far my favorite. Robert Sterns once said, "The avoidance of
conflict is not a virtue." Fear of offending should not immobilize
Americans and cause them to be silent. As far as I am concerned,
political correctness should neither be a phrase in our dictionaries
nor one floating around through the molecules of our atmosphere.
Political correctness is incinerating documents that were written
over 200 years ago. America cannot stay silent any longer. This
country needs to arise to the challenge and stop censoring everything
today!

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